Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father Pope John Paul II has appointed (6 February 2003) Bishop of Malaka-Johor (Malaysia) Reverend Father Paul Tan Chee Ing, SJ., until now regional assistant for East Asia for the Society of Jesus in Rome.
The Bishop elect was born on 5 April 1940 in Muar, diocese of Melaka-Johor to Chinese parents. He studied in Hong Kong, the Philippines for a Master in philosophy, Dublin Ireland at Milltown Institute for a Licentiate in theology, Paris at the Catholic Institute for a doctorate in history-sociology. He did his third year in Colombia. He was ordained a priest on 21 June 1971 in Ireland and made his solemn vows as a member of the Society of Jesus on 2 February 1979.
Since then he has been: Superior at Kuala Lumpur, editor of Catholic Asian News, promoter and founder of the Council of Malaysia for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism Sikhism (Pastoral Diocesan Institute/Catholic Research centre); Regional Superior for inter-religious dialogue; president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Malaysia, member of the Council of Presbyters, chaplain, delegate for refugees (mainly Vietnamese), Catholic Action ecclesiastical assistant for Catholic Doctors and a member of the National Council for Catholic education. He was also professor at Taiwan University and parish priest at Petaling Jaya. Until now he was Regional Assistant of the general prepositor of the Jesuits for East Asia. (Fides Service 13/2/2003 EM lines 18 Words: 255)